Ian Wright is down a stone and a half after making some straightforward changes to his diet and fitness.
The former England and Arsenal striker spoke about his weight loss during the latest episode of Stick to Football, telling Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Jill Scott that consistency has made the biggest difference.
‘I’m consistent around food now,’ Wright said.
And getting into a regular gym routine has helped him make better choices elsewhere.
‘I have discipline in going to the gym,’ he said. ‘My discipline in getting the gym right means I then eat the right foods.’
So, what’s changed?
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1. He Cut Out Fizzy Drinks
Wright says one of the simplest changes he’s made is cutting out fizzy drinks.
‘No fizzy pop. I cut fizzies.’
Fizzy drinks can be an easy source of ’empty’ calories – adding energy without doing much to fill you up. Cutting them out is a fairly low-effort way to reduce your overall calorie intake without having to overhaul your meals.
2. He Reduced His Sugar Intake
Wright also identified one of his biggest weaknesses: biscuits.
‘I could eat a whole packet,’ he says, ‘but I’ve stopped doing that now. I could easily eat a full packet of chocolate biscuits. All that I’ve had to cut out.’
He’s not cut back completely, though, adding:
‘My weakness is when you go to the shop and you can get those cakes with icing on top.’
The takeaway isn’t that certain foods are inherently off-limits. But cutting down on anything that’s nutrient-sparse and calorie-dense can make a big difference to weight-loss efforts.
3. He Stopped Drinking at Home
The third change is alcohol.
‘I don’t drink in the house,’ Wright said.
That doesn’t mean he’s given it up completely.
‘I’ll have a Guinness when I go out – nothing else.’
It’s another simple boundary around something Wright wants to consume less of, rather than him trying to ditch booze altogether.
What Ian Wright Eats Now
Keane goes on to ask Wright whether he’s eating healthily all the time.
‘Yeah, yeah. Salmon and steak and chicken,’ he replies. ‘A bit of rice. Not so much pasta – I used to eat pasta two three times a week. I eat it once a month now.’
These three changes are no magic formula. But there’s a lot to be said for: identifying any habits making it harder to eat well, changing them and then, crucially, sticking with those changes.
In Wright’s case, there’s no complicated diet. Just more consistency, regular exercise and fewer Hobnobs.
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